Maximize the number of segments of length p, q and r

Given a rod of length L, the task is to cut the rod in such a way that the total number of segments of length p, q, and r is maximized. The segments can only be of length p, q, and r. 

Examples:

Input: l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5 
Output: 5 
Explanation: Segments of 2, 2, 2, 2 and 3

Input: l = 7, p = 2, q = 5, r = 5 
Output: 2 
Explanation: Segments of 2 and 5

BRUTE METHOD(Recursion)

Intuition:

1. We look for all possibilities for every individual length and send the remaining value in recursion.
2. Once the base case is hit, i.e n becomes 0, we return 0;
3. And this continues till all the lengths x,y,z are looked whether they will contribute to it or not.

Implementation:

C++

// C++ Code to find maximum number of cut segments
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
#include <limits.h>
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

int maximizeCuts(int n, int x, int y, int z)
{
        // Your code here
        if (n == 0)
            return 0;
        if (n < 0)
            return INT_MIN;

        int a = maximizeCuts(n - x, x, y, z) + 1;
        int b = maximizeCuts(n - y, x, y, z) + 1;
        int c = maximizeCuts(n - z, x, y, z) + 1;

        int d = max(a, max(b, c));
        return d;
    }
int main()
{

    int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;

    cout << maximizeCuts(l, p, q, r) << endl;
    return 0;
}
// This code is contributed by Raunak Singh

Java

// Java Code to find maximum number of cut segments

import java.io.*;

class GFG {
    public static int maximizeCuts(int n, int x, int y, int z)
    {
        // Your code here
        if (n == 0)
            return 0;
        if (n < 0)
            return Integer.MIN_VALUE;

        int a = maximizeCuts(n - x, x, y, z) + 1;
        int b = maximizeCuts(n - y, x, y, z) + 1;
        int c = maximizeCuts(n - z, x, y, z) + 1;

        int d = Math.max(a, Math.max(b, c));
        return d;
    }
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;
        System.out.println(maximizeCuts(l, p, q, r));
    }
}
// This code is contributed by Raunak Singh

Output

5

Time Complexity: O(3^n)
Space Complexity: O(1)

Maximize the number of segments of length p, q, and r using Memoization:

This can be visualized as a classical recursion problem, which further narrows down to the memoization ( top-down ) method of Dynamic Programming. 

Follow the below steps to solve the problem:

• Initially, we have length l present with us, we’d have three size choices to cut from this, either we can make a cut of length p, q, or r
• Let’s say we made a cut of length p, so the remaining length would be l-p, and similarly, with cuts q & r resulting in remaining lengths l-q & l-r respectively. 
• We will call the recursive function for the remaining lengths and at any subsequent instance, we’ll have these three choices. 
• We will store the answer from all these recursive calls & take the maximum out of them +1 as at any instance we’ll have 1 cut from this particular call as well.

Note: The recursive call would be made if and only if the available length is greater than the length we want to cut i.e. suppose p=3, and after certain recursive calls the available length is 2 only, so we can’t cut this line in lengths of p anymore.

Below is the pseudocode for the above approach:

C

if (l == 0) // Base Case
    return 0;

int a, b, c;
if (p <= l)
    a = func(l - p, p, q, r);
if (q <= l)
    b = func(l - q, p, q, r);
if (r <= l)
    c = func(l - r, p, q, r);
return 1 + max({ a, b, c });

Below is the recursion tree for Input: l=4,p=2,q=1 and r=1:

Recursion Tree for l=4 , p=2 ,q=1 and r=1

One can clearly observe that at each call, the given length ( 4 initially ) is divided into 3 different subparts. Also, we can see that the recursion is being repeated for certain entries (The red arrow represents a repetitive call for l=2, Yellow for l=3, and Blue for l=1). Therefore, we can memoize the results in any container or array, so that repetition of the same recursive calls is avoided.

Now, the above pseudocode changes to:

C++

vector<int> dp(10005,-1);         // Initialise DP Table ( Array can also be used )


if(l==0)                         // Base Case
 return 0;

if(dp[l]!=-1)                 // If already memoized , return from here only
   return dp[l];
int a,b,c;
if(p<=l)
  a=func(l-p,p,q,r);
if(q<=l)
  b=func(l-q,p,q,r);
if(r<=l)
  c=func(l-r,p,q,r);


return dp[l]=1+max({a,b,c});          // Memoize the result in the dp table & return

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ Code to find maximum number of cut segments
// Memoization DP

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function to find the maximum number of cuts.
int dp[10005];

int func(int l, int p, int q, int r)
{
    if (l == 0)
        return 0; // Base Case

    if (dp[l] != -1) // If already memoized
        return dp[l];

    int a(INT_MIN), b(INT_MIN),
        c(INT_MIN); // Intitialise a,b,& c with INT_MIN

    if (p <= l) // If Possible to make a cut of length p
        a = func(l - p, p, q, r);

    if (q <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length q
        b = func(l - q, p, q, r);

    if (r <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length r
        c = func(l - r, p, q, r);

    return dp[l] = 1 + max({ a, b, c }); // Memoize & return
}

int maximizeTheCuts(int l, int p, int q, int r)
{
    memset(dp, -1, sizeof(dp)); // Set Lookup table to -1
    int ans = func(l, p, q, r); // Utility function call

    if (ans < 0)
        return 0; // If returned answer is negative , that
                  // means cuts are not possible
    return ans;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{

    int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;

    cout << maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r) << endl;
    return 0;
}

Java

// Java Code to find maximum number of cut segments
// Memoization DP
import java.util.*;

class GFG {

    // Function to find the maximum number of cuts.
    static int[] dp;

    static int func(int l, int p, int q, int r)
    {
        if (l == 0)
            return 0; // Base Case

        if (dp[l] != -1) // If already memoized
            return dp[l];

        int a, b, c; // Intitialise a,b,& c with INT_MIN
        a = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
        b = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
        c = Integer.MIN_VALUE;
        if (p <= l) // If Possible to make a cut of length p
            a = func(l - p, p, q, r);

        if (q <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length q
            b = func(l - q, p, q, r);

        if (r <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length r
            c = func(l - r, p, q, r);

        return dp[l] = 1
                       + Math.max(Math.max(a, b),
                                  c); // Memoize & return
    }

    static int maximizeTheCuts(int l, int p, int q, int r)
    {
        Arrays.fill(dp, -1); // Set Lookup table to -1
        int ans = func(l, p, q, r); // Utility function call

        if (ans < 0)
            return 0; // If returned answer is negative ,
                      // that means cuts are not possible
        return ans;
    }

      // Driver code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        dp = new int[10005];
        int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;
        System.out.println(maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r));
    }
}

Python3

# Python Code to find maximum number of cut segments
# Memoization DP
import sys

# Function to find the maximum number of cuts.
dp = [0]*10005

def func(l, p, q, r):
    # Base Case
    if (l == 0):
        return 0
    # If already memoized
    if (dp[l] != -1):
        return dp[l]

    # Intitialise a,b,& c with INT_MIN
    a, b, c = -1*sys.maxsize,-1*sys.maxsize,-1*sys.maxsize

    # If Possible to make a cut of length p
    if (p <= l):
        a = func(l - p, p, q, r)

    # If possible to make a cut of length q
    if (q <= l):
        b = func(l - q, p, q, r)

    # If possible to make a cut of length r
    if (r <= l):
        c = func(l - r, p, q, r)

    # Memoize & return
    dp[l] = 1 + max(max(a, b),c)
    return dp[l]

def maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r):
    # Set Lookup table to -1
    for i in range(len(dp)):
        dp[i]=-1

    # Utility function call
    ans = func(l, p, q, r)

    # If returned answer is negative , that
    # means cuts are not possible
    if (ans < 0):
        return 0

    return ans

# Driver code
l = 11
p = 2
q = 3
r = 5
print(maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r))

# This code is contributed by Utkarsh

C#

// C# Code to find maximum number of cut segments
// Memoization DP
using System;

class GFG {

  // Function to find the maximum number of cuts.
  static int[] dp;

  static int func(int l, int p, int q, int r)
  {
    if (l == 0)
      return 0; // Base Case

    if (dp[l] != -1) // If already memoized
      return dp[l];

    int a, b, c; // Intitialise a,b,& c with INT_MIN
    a = Int32.MinValue;
    b = Int32.MinValue;
    c = Int32.MinValue;
    if (p <= l) // If Possible to make a cut of length p
      a = func(l - p, p, q, r);

    if (q <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length q
      b = func(l - q, p, q, r);

    if (r <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length r
      c = func(l - r, p, q, r);

    return dp[l] = 1
      + Math.Max(Math.Max(a, b),
                 c); // Memoize & return
  }

  static int maximizeTheCuts(int l, int p, int q, int r)
  {
    // Set Lookup table to -1
    for(int i=0;i<dp.Length;i++)
    {
      dp[i]=-1;
    }

    int ans = func(l, p, q, r); // Utility function call

    if (ans < 0)
      return 0; // If returned answer is negative ,
    // that means cuts are not possible
    return ans;
  }

  // Driver code
  static public void Main ()
  {
    dp = new int[10005];
    int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;
    Console.WriteLine(maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r));
  }
}

// This code is contributed by Pushpesh Raj.

Javascript

// Javascript Code to find maximum number of cut segments
// Memoization DP

// Function to find the maximum number of cuts.
let dp=new Array(10005);

function func( l, p, q, r)
{
    if (l == 0)
        return 0; // Base Case

    if (dp[l] != -1) // If already memoized
        return dp[l];

    // Intitialise a,b,& c with INT_MIN
    let a=Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER;
    let b=Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER;
    let c=Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER;

    if (p <= l) // If Possible to make a cut of length p
        a = func(l - p, p, q, r);

    if (q <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length q
        b = func(l - q, p, q, r);

    if (r <= l) // If possible to make a cut of length r
        c = func(l - r, p, q, r);

    return dp[l] = 1 + Math.max(Math.max(a, b),c); // Memoize & return
}

function maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r)
{
    // Set Lookup table to -1
    for (let i = 0; i < dp.length; i++)
            dp[i] = -1;

    let ans = func(l, p, q, r); // Utility function call

    if (ans < 0)
        return 0; // If returned answer is negative , that
                // means cuts are not possible
    return ans;
}

// Driver code
    let l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;
    console.log(maximizeTheCuts(l, p, q, r));

// This code is contributed by Aman Kumar

Output

5

Time Complexity: O(N) where n is the length of the rod or line segment that has to be cut
Auxiliary Space: O(N) where n is the length of the rod or line segment that has to be cut

Maximize the number of segments of length p, q, and r using Dynamic Programming (DP):

As the solution for the maximum number of cuts that can be made in a given length depends on the maximum number of cuts previously made in shorter lengths, this question could be solved by the approach of Dynamic Programming. Suppose we are given a length ‘l’. For finding the maximum number of cuts that can be made in length ‘l’, find the number of cuts made in shorter previous length ‘l-p’, ‘l-q’, ‘l-r’ lengths respectively. 

The required answer would be the max(l-p,l-q,l-r)+1 as one more cut should be needed after this to cut length ‘l‘. So for solving this problem for a given length, find the maximum number of cuts that can be made in lengths ranging from ‘1’ to ‘l’. 

Example: 

l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5 
Analysing lengths from 1 to 11: 

1. Not possible to cut->0
2. Possible cut is of lengths 2->1 (2)
3. Possible cut is of lengths 3->1 (3)
4. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[4-2],arr[4-3])+1->2 (2,2)
5. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[5-2],arr[5-3])+1->2 (2,3)
6. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[6-2],arr[6-3],arr[6-5])+1->3 (2,2,2)
7. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[7-2],arr[7-3],arr[7-5])+1->3 (2,3,2) or (2,2,3)
8. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[8-2],arr[8-3],arr[8-5])+1->4 (2,2,2,2)
9. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[9-2],arr[9-3],arr[9-5])+1->4 (2,3,2,2) or (2,2,3,2) or (2,2,2,3)
10. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[10-2],arr[10-3],arr[10-5])+1->5 (2,2,2,2,2)
11. Possible cuts are of lengths max(arr[11-2],arr[11-3],arr[11-5])+1->5 (2,3,2,2,2) or (2,2,3,2,2) or (2,2,2,3,2) or (2,2,2,2,3)

Follow the below steps to solve the problem:

• Initialise an array DP[]={-1} and DP[0]=0.
• Run a loop from ‘1’ to ‘l’
• If DP[i]=-1 means it’s not possible to divide it using giving segments p,q,r so continue
• DP[i+p]=max(DP[i+p],DP[i]+1)
• DP[i+q]=max(DP[i+q],DP[i]+1)
• DP[i+r]=max(DP[i+r],DP[i]+1)
• print DP[l]

Pseudo-Code: 

C++

DP[l+1]={-1}
DP[0]=0
for(i from 0 to l)
  if(DP[i]==-1)
  continue
  DP[i+p]=max(DP[i+p],DP[i]+1)
  DP[i+q]=max(DP[i+q],DP[i]+1)
  DP[i+r]=max(DP[i+r],DP[i]+1)

print(DP[l])

Below is the implementation of the above approach:

C++

// C++ program to maximize the number
// of segments of length p, q and r
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function that returns the maximum number
// of segments possible
int findMaximum(int l, int p, int q, int r)
{

    // Array to store the cut at each length
    int dp[l + 1];

    // All values with -1
    memset(dp, -1, sizeof(dp));

    // if length of rod is 0 then total cuts will be 0
    // so, initialize the dp[0] with 0
    dp[0] = 0;

    for (int i = 0; i <= l; i++) {

        // if certain length is not possible
        if (dp[i] == -1)
            continue;

        // if a segment of p is possible
        if (i + p <= l)
            dp[i + p] = max(dp[i + p], dp[i] + 1);

        // if a segment of q is possible
        if (i + q <= l)
            dp[i + q] = max(dp[i + q], dp[i] + 1);

        // if a segment of r is possible
        if (i + r <= l)
            dp[i + r] = max(dp[i + r], dp[i] + 1);
    }
    // if no segment can be cut then return 0
    if (dp[l] == -1) {
        dp[l] = 0;
    }
    // return value corresponding to length l
    return dp[l];
}

// Driver Code
int main()
{
    int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;

    // Calling Function
    int ans = findMaximum(l, p, q, r);
    cout << ans;

    return 0;
}

Java

// Java program to maximize
// the number of segments
// of length p, q and r
import java.io.*;

class GFG {

    // Function that returns
    // the maximum number
    // of segments possible
    static int findMaximum(int l, int p, int q, int r)
    {

        // Array to store the
        // cut at each length
        int dp[] = new int[l + 1];

        // All values with -1
        for (int i = 0; i < l + 1; i++)
            dp[i] = -1;

        // if length of rod is 0
        // then total cuts will
        // be 0 so, initialize
        // the dp[0] with 0
        dp[0] = 0;

        for (int i = 0; i <= l; i++) {

            // if certain length
            // is not possible
            if (dp[i] == -1)
                continue;

            // if a segment of
            // p is possible
            if (i + p <= l)
                dp[i + p] = Math.max(dp[i + p], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // q is possible
            if (i + q <= l)
                dp[i + q] = Math.max(dp[i + q], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // r is possible
            if (i + r <= l)
                dp[i + r] = Math.max(dp[i + r], dp[i] + 1);
        }

        // if no segment can be cut then return 0
        if (dp[l] == -1) {
            dp[l] = 0;
        }
        // return value corresponding
        // to length l
        return dp[l];
    }

    // Driver Code
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;

        // Calling Function
        int ans = findMaximum(l, p, q, r);
        System.out.println(ans);
    }
}

// This code is contributed
// by anuj_67.

Python3

# Python 3 program to
# maximize the number
# of segments of length
# p, q and r

# Function that returns
# the maximum number
# of segments possible


def findMaximum(l, p, q, r):

    # Array to store the cut
    # at each length
    # All values with -1
    dp = [-1]*(l + 1)

    # if length of rod is 0 then
    # total cuts will be 0
    # so, initialize the dp[0] with 0
    dp[0] = 0

    for i in range(l+1):

        # if certain length is not
        # possible
        if (dp[i] == -1):
            continue

        # if a segment of p is possible
        if (i + p <= l):
            dp[i + p] = (max(dp[i + p],
                             dp[i] + 1))

        # if a segment of q is possible
        if (i + q <= l):
            dp[i + q] = (max(dp[i + q],
                             dp[i] + 1))

        # if a segment of r is possible
        if (i + r <= l):
            dp[i + r] = (max(dp[i + r],
                             dp[i] + 1))

    # if no segment can be cut then return 0
    if dp[l] == -1:
        dp[l] = 0
    # return value corresponding
    # to length l
    return dp[l]


# Driver Code
if __name__ == "__main__":
    l = 11
    p = 2
    q = 3
    r = 5

    # Calling Function
    ans = findMaximum(l, p, q, r)
    print(ans)

# This code is contributed by
# ChitraNayal

C#

// C# program to maximize
// the number of segments
// of length p, q and r
using System;

class GFG {

    // Function that returns
    // the maximum number
    // of segments possible
    static int findMaximum(int l, int p, int q, int r)
    {

        // Array to store the
        // cut at each length
        int[] dp = new int[l + 1];

        // All values with -1
        for (int i = 0; i < l + 1; i++)
            dp[i] = -1;

        // if length of rod is 0
        // then total cuts will
        // be 0 so, initialize
        // the dp[0] with 0
        dp[0] = 0;

        for (int i = 0; i <= l; i++) {

            // if certain length
            // is not possible
            if (dp[i] == -1)
                continue;

            // if a segment of
            // p is possible
            if (i + p <= l)
                dp[i + p] = Math.Max(dp[i + p], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // q is possible
            if (i + q <= l)
                dp[i + q] = Math.Max(dp[i + q], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // r is possible
            if (i + r <= l)
                dp[i + r] = Math.Max(dp[i + r], dp[i] + 1);
        }

        // if no segment can be cut then return 0
        if (dp[l] == -1) {
            dp[l] = 0;
        }
        // return value corresponding
        // to length l
        return dp[l];
    }

    // Driver Code
    public static void Main()
    {
        int l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;

        // Calling Function
        int ans = findMaximum(l, p, q, r);
        Console.WriteLine(ans);
    }
}

// This code is contributed
// by anuj_67.

Javascript

<script>
// Javascript program to maximize
// the number of segments
// of length p, q and r

    // Function that returns
    // the maximum number
    // of segments possible
    function findMaximum(l,p,q,r)
    {
        // Array to store the
        // cut at each length
        let dp = new Array(l + 1);

        // All values with -1
        for (let i = 0; i < l + 1; i++)
            dp[i] = -1;

        // if length of rod is 0
        // then total cuts will
        // be 0 so, initialize
        // the dp[0] with 0
        dp[0] = 0;

        for (let i = 0; i <= l; i++) {

            // if certain length
            // is not possible
            if (dp[i] == -1)
                continue;

            // if a segment of
            // p is possible
            if (i + p <= l)
                dp[i + p] = Math.max(dp[i + p], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // q is possible
            if (i + q <= l)
                dp[i + q] = Math.max(dp[i + q], dp[i] + 1);

            // if a segment of
            // r is possible
            if (i + r <= l)
                dp[i + r] = Math.max(dp[i + r], dp[i] + 1);
        }

        // if no segment can be cut then return 0
        if (dp[l] == -1) {
            dp[l] = 0;
        }
        // return value corresponding
        // to length l
        return dp[l];
    }

    // Driver Code
    let l = 11, p = 2, q = 3, r = 5;
    // Calling Function
    let ans = findMaximum(l, p, q, r);

    document.write(ans);


// This code is contributed by rag2127
</script>

Output

5

Time Complexity: O(N). Use of a single for-loop till length ‘N’.
Auxiliary Space: O(N). Use of an array ‘DP’ to keep track of segments

Note: This problem can also be thought of as a minimum coin change problem because we are given a certain length to acquire which is the same as the value of the amount whose minimum change is needed. Now the x,y, and z are the same as the denomination of the coin given. So length is the same as the amount and x y z are the same as denominations, thus we need to change only one condition that is instead of finding the minimum we need to find the maximum and we will get the answer. As the minimum coin change problem is the basic dynamic programming question so this will help to solve this question also.

The condition we need to change in the minimum coin change problem is:

C++

for(ll i=1;i<=n;i++)
{
     for(ll j=1;j<=3;j++)
     {
          if(i>=a[j]&&m[i-a[j]]!=-1)
          {
               dp[i]=max(dp[i],1+dp[i-a[j]]);
          }
     }
}